Binghamton Bulldogs: Local talent fueling first-year team's success

Binghamton Bulldogs guard Jimmy Gray sets up Ky Sutton for a basket during Sunday's game against the Pottstown Flames at Seton Catholic Central. Sutton scored 52 points and Gray had 46 in Binghamton's 164-145 victory.

Rob Centorani / staff video

Heard of the Binghamton Bulldogs?

They’re not boring. They’re dizzying on a basketball court, racing their way to success as a first-year franchise in the American Basketball Association.

Bulldogs guard Jimmy Gray has played a lot of basketball games over the years in a Binghamton ...more

Bulldogs guard Jimmy Gray has played a lot of basketball games over the years in a Binghamton uniform.

Photo provided by T.J. Tristan

Though that red, white and blue ball is about the only thing this version of the ABA has in common with the 1970s ABA that included Dr. J., it’s an exciting brand of basketball.

Four-pointers, flashy dunks, run-and-gun, gallons of points — and much of that stuff is produced by homegrown talent.

To think, a year ago Jim Evans didn’t have an inkling he’d be the owner of an ABA franchise. Now, the former Whitney Point/Chenango Valley/Broome Community College forward is running a semi-professional team that plays its home games at Seton Catholic Central.

An ABA representative contacted him last March, Evans investigated and now he’s heading a 16-2 squad that’s riding a 14-game winning streak. As good as the group’s been on the court, Evans said they’ve been just as successful enticing locals to purchase $10 tickets.

Much of the success can be linked to a roster with plenty of local flavor.

If you’ve followed high school basketball in Section 4 or area college basketball, you’ve probably heard of many of the Bulldogs.

Seton Catholic Central graduate Ralph Bucci is getting it done for the Binghamton Bulldogs at the ...more

Seton Catholic Central graduate Ralph Bucci is getting it done for the Binghamton Bulldogs at the age of 42.

Photo provided by T.J. Tristan

Going back to the early- to mid-1990s, you might remember Ralph Bucci in a Seton Catholic Central uniform. More recently, there’s Jimmy Gray in a Binghamton High or Binghamton University uniform — has anyone played more basketball games with Binghamton stitched across his jersey? How about former Binghamton High guard Chris Cartwright? Or head coach Reggie Hawkins in a Binghamton High uniform or perhaps from his basketball development work for BX, a Binghamton-based sports training business.

Remember that year Binghamton University played Duke in the NCAA tournament? Well, 6-foot-9 Bulldogs center Ky Sutton started for that infamous 2008-2009 squad.

“The most important thing is getting local people who are well respected in the basketball community,” said Evans, who also owns the Binghamton Premier League, an adult basketball league run out of Davis College. “Let’s be honest, if we didn’t have those guys, if we brought in 12 guys from out of the area, I don’t think we would have nearly the community buy-in we do. Having Ralph, having Jimmy, having Reggie, having Chris Cartwright, that’s meant the world to our organization.”

Ky Sutton is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Binghamton Bulldogs.

Ky Sutton is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Binghamton Bulldogs.

Photo provided by T.J. Tristan

It’s a big reason Evans said the Bulldogs average between 700-800 fans. At least, on nights when it’s not below zero outside. That was the case for back-to-back home games Jan. 5-6 and Evans said attendance was closer to 300 on those frigid nights.

As is the case with any sports franchise, the Bulldogs sell more than basketball. In a Feb. 3 game against the NEPA Stars & Stripes, a dance squad performed during timeouts and at halftime. Another dancer took to the court at halftime for a Feb. 11 game against the Pottstown Flames. Plus, there’s a red mascot named Bucky who interacts with younger fans throughout games. P.A. announcer John Lawrence refers to SCC’s gym as the “the Dog Pound.”

A cheer team performs during halftime of the Binghamton Bulldogs' ABA game against the NEPA Stars & Stripes on Feb. 3.

Rob Centorani / staff video

The game itself? Think of Paul Westhead’s Loyola Marymount crew that included Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble and eventual Binghamton Mets outfielder Terrell Lowery, and then double that pace.

“It’s a talented group of men going at a fast pace,” Gray said after hitting 12 three-pointers and scoring 46 points in a 164-145 win over Pottstown on Sunday. “A team can go on a 15-point run in a matter of minutes.”

It’s a lot of one-pass-and-shoot offense.

“Basically, it’s an East Coast Golden State-type style,” said Hawkins, adding that 12-minute quarters, a 24-second shot clock and an SCC court that’s 15 feet shorter than college courts also factor into the high scores.

The Binghamton Bulldogs' Moni Anderson drives baseline during an American Basketball Association ...more

The Binghamton Bulldogs' Moni Anderson drives baseline during an American Basketball Association game against the Pottstown Flames on Sunday at Seton Catholic Central.

Photo provided by T.J. Tristan

This sequence took place Sunday over a four-minute span of the third quarter: Pottstown’s Marquis Marshall hit two free throws with 8:30 left; Gray hit a three-pointer (8:20); the Flames’ Zack Vouse hit a three-pointer (7:54); Sutton made a driving layup (7:45); Gil Benz of Pottstown hit a three-pointer (7:35); Trea Kelly hit a fallaway jumper (7:21); Benz hit a three-pointer (7:10); Gray made a driving layup (7:00); Vouse hit a three-pointer (6:55); Kelly hit a free throw (6:14); Marshall made a three-pointer (6:05); Sutton made a hook in the lane (5:50); Vouse drove for a layup (5:40); Kelly made two free throws (5:28); Vouse drove for a layup (5:11); Sutton made a free throw (4:54); and Sutton scored on a two-hand dunk (4:25).

“The league wants us to play as fast as possible,” said Bucci, who is 42. “They make rules that encourage running and shooting quickly. All the guys like taking advantage of it. It’s entertaining for the fans and the guys like playing this way. It’s a good atmosphere.”

Head coach Reggie Hawkins has steered the Binghamton Bulldogs to a 16-2 record in their first ...more

Head coach Reggie Hawkins has steered the Binghamton Bulldogs to a 16-2 record in their first season in the American Basketball Association.

Photo provided by Drew Lewis

Marina Maerkl, a standout forward for Seton CC’s girls basketball team, has attended a majority of the Bulldogs’ home games.

“Here you see more well-rounded stuff,” she said. “More dunks and it’s a lot more up-tempo. The energy is awesome.”

She also said working with Hawkins through BX contributed to her interest in the team.

“They’re really involved in the community and the team is filled with a lot of great guys,” she said. “I think it has a lot to do with them getting a lot of fans.”

“I thought there were more bells and whistles,” said Gouldin, who attended with his wife and two children. “I thought there were going to be disco balls when it was four-point time.”

That 3-D light isn’t on much. Teams are awarded an extra point when a turnover occurs in the backcourt. David Haye hit a four-pointer in the Bulldogs’ 139-118 victory over NEPA Stars & Stripes two weeks ago and Binghamton fouled Marshall on Sunday while he was shooting a three-pointer with the 3-D light on. He made all four free throws.

What that light encourages is for teams to press in the frontcourt, which often leads to transition chances for the defensive rebounding team. And that contributes to the fast pace.

It’s also been a whirlwind for Evans in the front office.

Evans said he’s lured more than 150 sponsors, found numerous volunteers and interns, and has 40-50 kids enrolled in a Junior Bulldogs basketball program.

Though Evans said the players get paid, no one’s getting rich. They all have jobs — Bucci’s a postal worker in Endicott, Gray works for his family’s business – Despina’s Mediterranean Taste in downtown Binghamton – Hawkins has been at BX for 15 years, etc.

Jim Evans, Binghamton Bulldogs President / CEO.

Jim Evans, Binghamton Bulldogs President / CEO.

Photo provided

“It’s good exercise, it gives me a reason to stay in shape and I still enjoy playing basketball,” said Bucci, who had 27 rebounds and 10 assists in the win over Stars & Stripes on Feb. 3. “It’s a lot of fun being around the younger guys, it keeps me young.”

Added Gray: “It brings the community together and gives us a chance to compete at a high level.”

It’s all come together quickly for the Bulldogs, who have remaining regular-season home games against the Elmira Eagles at 7:05 p.m. Saturday; the Scranton Shamrocks on Feb. 24; and Roc City Ravens on March 3.

“As an organization, we’re happy with what we’re doing,” Evans said. “There’s no reason we can’t be here for 25-30 years.”